The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
VICTIMS OF THE BOODLER
How Two UnscrupulOusly Avaricious
Citizens Of Indiana We're SWindled.
IN Trying to Buy Counterfeit Bills They Are
Robbed Of Their Good Money-The BOod-
ler's System Of Operating.

more amusing feature than the biting OF con-
scienceless citizens at what is known as the
''boodle racket There are at present three
parties pulling at the secret officers of
this district for relief in this matter. Two Of
them have bought valises of counterfeit money
and found on opening their treasure that il was
mere paper. The other has been approached
the same line and, in thirst for fame de-
tective. has followed up the correspondence to q
point where he thinks the scheme ripe for official
interference There are probably no persons in
Indiana more indignant than these gentlemen
who thought they we're buying counterfeit money
and failed to obtain it TO them it appears that
Q man who offers the public good counterfeit
article and then fails to deliver it, is the worst
Df criminals. AS time passes and they can re-
aect coolly on the facts. they may possibly
rive at the conclusion that a man VINO attempts
to buy counterfeit money is getting well started
n crime ALSO
The manner in which these parties were ap-
preached was by circular letter, informing them
that they had been referred to the writer as a
Trustworthy person. and one who can keep his
own counsel" and offering opportunity for
making n fortune by passing counterfeit money.
The circular says: There is absolutely no
rick, ss the article is (GooD) money. and is per-
feet, as the incosed newspaper clipping will
prove The sizes Is. "a. 5s and los. My
terms are. 81 600 cost $780, 5000 cost $500. 5000
cost s40O. 10000 cost $3.50. 20, 900 cost 81, 900.
and SO on; the more you invest the cheaper
you get tho goods" 1t further informs the
reader that z, GOO is the least amount sold under
any consideration; that he must como on to
New York that if his goods are not
what they are claimed to be he will pay
MI expenses OF the trip. II concludes: "In
Gods namo DO not betray me. mention to
living soul what passes between as nave
never done you any harm and never shall, but
ill prove a true and lasting friend to you"
The newspaper clipping" inclosed is @ work of
Irt. It is. OF course. a sham, but 1t is made
Ride enough to show portions of the columns to
either eide of the one containing the article.
which gives it n wonderfully genuine air. IL is
account of the of a seller of this article
Of money by a detective, and his trial, at which
governmsnr experts testify that the money is
good and that if not issued by the government
it must be printed from plates stolen from the
government On the back of it. apparently by
mere chance, is statement of a deficit in the
treasury of the United States amounting to
129,340, due to the redemption of counterfeit
notes by government officials.
The persons thus addressed were foolish
enough 10 be deceived by this letter, and crimi-
nal enough TO desire to get some of this choice
counterfeit money. They accordingly wrote for
further particulars and received explicit direc-
tions for their journey to New York and their
action arriving there The circular
informs the victim that he must come over the
New York Central road and stop at the hotel
1.-THE Vanderbilt. Forty-secoud street and Lex
In fton avenue) whose card is inciosed, and
above all. do not ask any questions from any
one at the depot. no matter who they are, not
even il they claim to- come from me. but go
about your business" If he rides from the
depot he must stop a block from tho hotel and
tell the driver where he Is going. He must reg
lister there his correct but give his address
as Troy, n. Y. The object of this mystery is to
impress on the victim the great care with which
the business is transacted, and also prevent his
coming in contact with officious persons who
might give the scheme away.
The second circular is worded to require
further inquiry. and in response to this the d-
Rections are completed by the following: "When
you arrive at the hotel 60 direct TO your room
and await until you hear from me, and do not
eeive your last letters, and then You will know
that you are talking TO the right party. Be sure
and write me two days before you start from
home. and also telegraph from some point along
the road. 80 will know what train you are COM
Ing on. and when you write send me your de-
scription OF how you will be dressed, or have
some sign so ] will know soon as see you in
your room At the hotel"
After correspondence of this kind. about two
Ind. started to New York city with good money
in their pockets for the purchase of the counter
felt article. They are vouched for good,
responsible men. of some means-one of them a
Cleveland that they would be in New York at
$40 A NJ. Aug. 10" On their arrival at the
depot they made Decline for the eastern en-
trance. as they had been directed. An emissary
of the boodl-r was on hand. He knew them
from the descriptions furnished and by their per-
sstept following of the directions. He ap-
preached them and made inquiries to who
they we're. and where they were going. but was
bluffed of without ceremony. That settled the
matter. They were Trustworthy. He followed
them and saw them safely ensconced in their
hotel. Then he q "a ablar
AS they sat in their room tmid knock was
heard at the door. and n young man ushered
them with a package. They opened the large
envelope no handed them and found inclosed
their last letters and their telegram: Also a motto
them that the bearer would lead them
TO the room OF their correspondent They fol-
lowed him for six blocks to the east and south.
and were with him admitted to one OF those
tenement-houses that line the cross streets in
that section which. bv the wav. is now one of
the toughest portions OF the eitv. They were
shown into parlor on the ground floor
and there received by well dressed. intelligent
looking gentleman of middle age. whoss eyes
screened by pair of green goggles After a
few minutes of conversation in which renewed
promises of eternal secrecy are made. the doors
OF the great iron-safe that stands 10 the back
part OF the room are opened-that is. IL appears
to them TO be safe, but anv expert detective
could have told them that it was in fact light
wooden structure. and could bs folded and
carried away BY one man without the slightest
trouble. IL was there TO give appearance of
,olidity to the institution. When the doors
open the safe appears chock full of money.
The boodler takes out bundle aud hands it to
lhem.
With eyes fairly bneng with excitement the
victims iusnect IL, and IN whispers they com pare
opinions. There is not the slightest indication
of badness about il that they detect. In
fact. IL 10 genuine money. The boodler confides
to them the story that it is printed on plates
ytoen from the Treasury Department. and that
The only feature in which 1t is not genuine is
that IL Is not issued by the government. They
are satisfied Thsir fortune is before them. and
they select 81 600 of the supposed counterfeits
for their They do not paw for it. On no!
they are too smart for that They are to send 1t |
home by express depostine it Ia the Office them.
selves, the only reservation of tho boodler being
that it shall go O. O. ID.
AS they are wrapping IL mp happy thought |
stri kes the gentleman with the green goggles. |
" BY the way" he says. "a fellow who was here |
the other day gave me new idea in this bust |
ness. He slipped his in q vaise because il |
would be less apt to attract suspicion" But |!
we have no valise here" "I'll fix that for you |